Automatic circular-knitting machine.



J. LAWSON. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN.27, 1912. L, 1 1 1,844.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES. M

J Lawson. L W BY 7 INVENTOF;

J. LAWSON. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

WITNESSES.

INVENTORR John Lawson.

ha; 5M2; I W WW sT TEs; PATENT OFFICE.

aroma Lawson, or onnrnhnraus; anoint 1mm "nu romn'r ic cincnnnig rinrrrrne inncnmn I Specification o f Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 29,

a piicaiim filed January 27, 1912. Serial No. 873,712.

LAWSON, a citi struction and combination hereinafter set' forth and claimed.

it may he stated in advance that while the drawings herewith represent portions of an automatic knitting-machine of the revoluble-cylinder type (such, for exam le, as disclosed in J. D. Hemphills U. S.. atent #933,443 of September 7, 1909), the improvements forming the subject of this application are not limited. to lmittiiig-machines of the revoluble-cylinder type, but are capable of being employed in knittingmachines having non-revoluble knittingcylinders; therefore the claims," are not lim-' ited to either-type of lmitting-machine.

ln the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 represents a partial end elevation, partly in section, showing portions of an automatic circular knitting-machine embodying my invention, the parts being in the normal operative position, as in producing plain knitting; Fig. 2 is a partialrear side elevation, corresponding substantially with Fig. 1 Fig; 3' is a vertical central section through the needle-cylinder (in enlarged scale) showing the thread-cutter and web-cutter mounted on the latch-ring, the

parts being in the normal or inactivep081 tion; Fig. 4 is also a vertical central section, showing the upper portion of the cylinder and contiguous parts, the thread-cutter being in the temporarily open position; Fig. 5' is a partial plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, except that the thread-cutter is not shown, while the web-cutter is represented in the act of severing the web; Fig. '5' a top plan view of the swinging latch-ring, having the thread-guides, thread-binder, thread-cutter and web-cutter mounted thereonand adapted for movement with the latch-ring; and Fig. 8 is a front elevation,

in reduced scale, and partial section, showing portions of the upper part of'the ma chine.

elements necessarily empl tain devices,

' The said drawings represent what I con sider the preferable way of actuating and controlling the movements of the several devices. "Ihat'is to say,the initial actions; of the latter areadapted'to be governed by suitably shaped cams, or analogous members, mounted, positioned and timed with j' relation to one another on what may be termed a master-shaft 8 whose angular movements may be effected in-an intermittent manner by a pattern-chain. It may be addedthat in circular knitting-machines the said main or master-shaft is, usually. adapted'to make only/one revolution during the production of each knitted unit or tubular web, as for example, a stocking.

It is assumed that the assembled parts or i I elements. comprising modern automatic circular knitting-machines (and including the manner of operation) of thegeneral type referred to are well-known to knitters (except as to the specific mechanism and mannerof mounting the thread and web-cutting devices); therefore a more detailed representation and description aredeemed unent. In order,'however, to more clearly set forth the relation'of the newer cutting devices 'to'coiiperating members of this type of knitting-machine, certain parts of the latter areshown herewith: v

'- The knitting or needle-cylinder D is adapted to he provided with a sinker-ring cap-ring f ,and other cooperating partsor oyed inconnection therewith for knitting. and supported on a main frame a. The machine is also provided with a fixed rear standard 0 capable of being engaged by the ca -ring, and having the latch-ring'c hinged t ereto. The latch- .ring has a lateral extension 0 (see Figs. 7 and 8) carrying one or more thread-guides d pivoted at d to its outer end; the threadvguides are adapted to place the respective threads in and out of knitting action by suitable means capableo-f vertically moying links 11 connected respectively to tilting fingers 0) adapted to engage the-.undersideof. the vguides. In order to simplify, as well as to lessen the cost of construction of cerclamping or binding the thread, for cutting the thread, and .for severing the web, and at I readily accessible,-the latter may be supported for operation on a normally stationthe same time render the devices "necessary in the present application for pat- -say those for temporarily I ary'plate or base 6 provide the plate with a bent lateral arm 6 adapted to be secured to the top of the rearward arm 0 of the latch-ring; the said plate portion being disposed substantially latch-ring and within the above the top As thus constructed and arranged, it is obvious that said devices for acting on thethread "and web, and including the thread-guides, are capable'of angular or swinging movements bodily With the latch-ring; the lat- I ters movement at the same time in no wise materially affecting or changing the condition and relative positions of the devicesto one another.

The following is a more detailed descri tion of the construction clamping proper, d, normally bearing on the face of said plate 6 The said threadclamp is adapted to be readily actuatedby hand, if desired, while the thread-cutter is in the normally closed position. The thread-cutting device consists crating-lever it, pivotally supported at k on the top of said plate-carrying arm 6-; the inner portion m of lever k is jointed to a cutting-jaw m, in turn pivoted to the plate; the jaw is arranged and adapted 'tocoaot with a relatively stationary steelblade m removably secured to the plate.

clamping and thread-severing devices may e described as follows:

To the master-shaft a, which is capable of being actuatedby a pattern-chain in a step by-step manner, is v a (Fig. 1) having. lugs i suitably positioned on its rim; the front or free end of a lever g, pivoted at a, is arranged in the path of said cam so that when the lever and either of the cam-lugs 2' are in temporary engagement, the rod 9 jointed to the lever g and to lever 9 (Fig. 2), causes the latter, jointed to vertical rod 9 in turn joint-connected to, the slotted arm-of lever it, to vibrate the other arm m downward, which, in connection with the pivoted cutting-jaw m, opens the jaws, as before stated. o the arm m is secured a downwardly extending member 2, the latter having its lower end engaging a short arm 0, adjustably secured to the binder or threading clamping arm 03 in connection with a spring a vertically interposed between and attached to said memand 0, causes both the binder d and jawm to open when the lever are in engagement. "The web-cutting device represented con- I prefer, however, to i freely of a main op-- sists essentially of a. tiltable slotted two-arm supported on a .pivot h of said sta- Z2 secured to the latch-ring; the inner end of the lever being jointed at to the upper portion 5. of a mova le element pivoted at 71 to the plate 6, and havmg the lower part or stem k extending freely downward a suitable distance through an opening it in the plate. a circular form, its periphery being ground to a cutting edge. The cutter itself is supported by and revoluble on the lower'end of the stem 10 as clearly shown. At a point be low the sinkers upon the inner face of the cate a ring [c of brass or other metal of e cutter for the latter cutting positio he drawingsshow mcans'for moving the web-cutter It, as follows: A. cam e is adjustably secured to the main cam-shaft s; the cam has a short lug e disposed on its periphery, F igs. 1 and 2. lever 0 pivoted at a, is-in normal engagement with said earn, the rear end of the lever being connected to a vertically extending rod e, in turn jointed to a lever pivoted at e to the top of frame a. The otherrend of lever e is jointed to a vertical rod 6", in turn connected to and arranged to actuate said slotted lever 72., and located substantially parallel with lever 72 before described. Stationary brackets 72 and n serve to guide the rods e and g respectively. The function" of spring '8 pressing against the underside of racket n, in connection with the collar 8*, adjustably mounted on rod 6, is to automatically return the Web-cutter 7a to the normal inoperative position immediately after the cutter has severed the web.

In Fig. 6 .2 indicates the point at which the web is severed. This point may be varied, if desired, by simply lengthening or shortening the cutter-carrying stem Z9.

It is obvious that the latch-ring (7' (including the said devices mounted thereon for guiding, binding and severing the thread, and also carrying the web-cutter) may be swung on its stationary pivot as indicated by the broken line at in Fig. 3; the inner broken line m indicates the course of the movement described by the outer edge of the Web-cutter when the latch-ring is being angularlymoved.

It is, of course, understood that the product or web to is being continuously and normounted for rotatlon;

the direction of normal movement.

arranged the knitted output is sometimes string work the webw being subsequently for example, ladies hose,

anism) produced in looping. arrangement insures greater ficiency, since the work is not run the latter empty the needles, and renderin In machines where the to empty needles, the next stocking,

the present case. tating stationary cutter 70 (Fig.

against the inner surface of the cutter to freely revolve on its. axis and cut the web roundabout at the lineor point z, the thus severed web part falling and leaving the other or shorter part a w of the web supported on arrow). vertical normal position af action is effected.

arrangement of the parts the drawings are such is adapted to .by the cam-lug e, the force or normal position away tubular web adapted to be opened or upon the engagement of cam-lug The spring 8 thread-cutting jaw, in cooperation with the relatively stationary cutting-blade m,

the thread and remain in the quickly sever thusclosed or normal position until the ad- Gopies of this patent may be ob cut into unitary lengths by hand. In case the knitted product is stockings, asthe web-cutter is 1 capable of being automatically brought into 5 cutting action immediately knitting of the toe part, the

continuous circular means of the webthus severed stockings length (corresponding to the adjustment and timing of the cutting mechwhile the line of severance is true or even, therefore much less waste stock is At the same time, the

t read is the running-on action involves inherent disadvantages notspresent-in The simultaneously rocylinder and web w, in cooperation with the temporarily positioned, relatively 6) when pressing The cutter instantly returns to its ter the severing It may be noted that'the' construction and that the web-cutter be moved into cutting action returning the cutter inward to the vertical from the knitted w. The drawings also represent the movable thread cutting member m, swung downward the lever g with a I claim:- l. In a full succeeding the machine then needle cylinder, swin above the mem er fixed an arm pivoted ing the cutter to accuracy and efting action.

from

chine having a i 3 preliminary to knitting tioned plate or the web, causes ed above the top immediately ment, supported for. moving the needles (see an inner surf represented in the web-cutter.

of the spring 8? latch-ring action causes the said GEO.

tained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, I). G.

vancing caindug, ment, is again engaged by the lever g,

to the bination therewithof a fabric-cutter located within the cylinder, said cutter carried by to the base-plate, a revoluble cam, and instrumentalities connecting said cam and arm arrang bination of a web-cutter,

engage and transversely web extending downward between said inner surface of the cylinder and the periphery of in its intermittent moveautomatic circular lniittingmachi'ne provided with a revoluble annular a latch-ring mounted to cylinder, and a base plate latch-ring, the comed and timed for causswing into and out of cut- 2. In an automaticcircular knitting-maneedle-cylinder, the coma mova ly posibase disposed within the needle-row having said web cutter pivotally. supported therein, and means'for swinging the web-cutterto engage an surface 7 of, meedle-cylin 3. In an aiutomatic circular knitting-machine provided with a needle-cylinder and the usual stitch=forn1ing means bination of-a plate element mova of the cylinder, a swinging web-cuttercapable of independent "moveand means the web-cutter outward against ace of the needle-cylinder to inner circular der.

the comly mounton said plate,

sever the tubular 4:. In an automatic circular knitting-machine having a needle c'ylinder and 'a pivote normally positioned 'thereabove, the combination therewith of a pivoted webcutter supported bodily movable with it, and means for moving the web-cutter in and to sever the web.

In testimony whereof -I have signature in presence-of on the latch-ring and affixed my two witnesses.

JOHN LAWSON.

H. REMINGTON, CALVIN H.

BROWN.

out of cutting 

